Hard work after winning the lottery

The nausea came and went quickly, but it felt like an uninvited guest, striking Hua Yun's heart with a blunt object.

Back inside, with the warmth of the radiator, Hua Yun felt as if the churning sensation she had just experienced was an illusion.

"I think that's what happened. They were suffocated in that greenhouse. The smell of that fish mint mixed with feed is enough to make anyone dizzy." Uncle Hua Shi slammed the gate of the sheep farm shut with a loud bang, looking very confident. "Plus, the wind outside is strong, and they've been filled with cold air. With both of those fumes hitting their stomachs, it's no wonder they feel uncomfortable."

Hua Yun nodded repeatedly, then readily agreed, "That's right, that flavor is incredibly addictive."

Her face was still a little pale, but her steps were much steadyer. Mainly, she didn't want to think in that direction—just kidding, the three "money-shredding machines" at home had just calmed down, and now what if another four-legged money-devouring beast appeared?

As soon as I entered the house, Grandma Hua had already brought out a pot of thick brown sugar ginger water.

The ginger water was authentically made; it was made by crushing old ginger, skin and all, and boiling it in a pot for half an hour, then adding homemade brown sugar. The spicy and sweet aroma went straight into my nostrils.

"Quick! Pour it down while it's hot!" Grandma Hua's tone wasn't like she was persuading someone to take medicine, it was more like she was giving them a pep talk. "A cold entering the body is no joke. After this bowl, you'll break out in a sweat and feel much better!"

Hua Yun pinched her nose and gulped it down.

The hot liquid burned its way down my throat to my stomach, instantly like a small stove being lit. The nausea I felt earlier was forcefully suppressed by the domineering spiciness of the ginger, and my stomach felt warm and cozy. Apart from feeling a little bloated, I didn't feel anything else.

"See? You caught a chill!" Hua Yun breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the fine sweat from her forehead. The weight on her heart lifted slightly.

It's definitely from catching a cold. It must be from catching a cold.

That night, the house was as lively as ever. Zhou Yanjin had an impromptu international video conference and was still in her study. The three little ones, tired from playing, went straight to sleep.

It was late at night.

The snow outside the window was still reflecting the light, illuminating the room so brightly that you could see the outlines of the snow even without turning on the lights.

Hua Yun sat cross-legged on the bed, holding a small abacus and an account book, preparing to calculate the list of New Year's goods she had brought back and the amount of red envelopes she would give to her relatives.

"Two thousand each for my uncle's side... two cartons of cigarettes for my cousin's side..."

She muttered to herself as she scribbled on the paper with her pen.

As I was writing, the pen suddenly stopped.

Her gaze fell on that page of the calendar.

That red circle was the symbol she used to mark the days when her period started.

Last month... I didn't circle it.

I drew it the month before last.

Hua Yun's heart skipped a beat. She grabbed her phone and opened the app that tracked her menstrual cycle.

Upon seeing this, she felt a tingling sensation all over her head.

The striking red exclamation mark and the words "postponed for 42 days" on the screen shone brightly in the darkness, as if mocking her carelessness.

"Forty-two days..."

Hua Yun swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly.

Forty-two days ago... When was that?

That night, Zhou Yanjin, whether from drinking or being too excited, acted like he'd taken some kind of drug, causing a huge disturbance.

She vaguely remembered that the last time... maybe... perhaps... no protection was used?

"Oh my god..."

Hua Yun threw her phone onto the quilt, then collapsed backward onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog coming from afar.

In this extreme stillness, she subconsciously placed her hand on her flat stomach.

Unlike Huai Sitao and the others, whose bellies were already bulging back then, her belly is now flat and even looks like she's lost a little weight because she's been busy preparing for the New Year these past few days.

However, the moment my palm touched it, the pulse beneath my palm seemed to beat exceptionally clearly.

"Thump, thump."

I don't know if it's my own heartbeat or if a little sprout has really taken up residence inside.

Hua Yun closed her eyes, her mind filled with Zhou Yanjin's ambiguous smile and the image of the three children rolling around on the ground.

If another one comes along...

If it's a cool guy like Si'an, that's fine, but what if it's someone like Si'tao who wreaks havoc on the house...

"What a tragedy!"

Hua Yun buried herself in the pillow and let out a silent wail.

That night, Hua Yun, whose sleep quality was usually as poor as a dead pig, suffered from insomnia.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

The entire Baixi Village was awakened by the incessant crowing of roosters.

Today is a big day; we're going to cure bacon.

This is Ms. Li Guifen's highlight every year, and no one dares to be careless. Early in the morning, a large iron pot was set up in the yard, and the freshly slaughtered pork for the New Year was cut into long strips and neatly arranged next to the huge earthenware jar.

"Yunyun! Stop dawdling and come help rub the salt in!"

Li Guifen shouted in the courtyard.

"They're here!"

With two faint dark circles under her eyes, Hua Yun forced herself to walk out.

The morning air was crisp and fresh, mixed with the smoky aroma of burning firewood, which was quite invigorating.

She forcefully suppressed her wild thoughts from last night.

"I don't want to think about it anymore. It must be because I've been too tired lately, causing a hormonal imbalance. Why scare myself like this?" Hua Yun said, trying to reassure herself while rolling up her sleeves.

In a large iron pot, seasonings for marinating meat are being stir-fried.

Coarse salt churned in a hot pan, making a "shh" sound, while a large bowl of freshly crushed peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon sat nearby.

"It's ready, add the Sichuan peppercorns!" Li Guifen gave the order.

Hua Yun quickly picked up the bowl of Sichuan peppercorns and poured it into the pot.

"Sizzle—!"

When Sichuan peppercorns come into contact with scalding hot coarse salt, they instantly release a strong and domineering numbing aroma.

This smells really good normally, with a festive vibe that's perfect for Chinese New Year.

But today...

The rich, uniquely pungent aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, mixed with the heat, was like an invisible whip, lashing hard against Hua Yun's olfactory nerves.

The taste hit me right in the head, then quickly sank down, stirring up a storm in my stomach.

This feeling is ten times more intense than yesterday in the sheep pen!

"vomit--!"

Hua Yun had no time to react; the acid in her stomach surged up like a volcanic eruption.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly. She threw down the basin in her hand, covered her mouth, and ran to the backyard.

"Hey?! Why are you so clumsy, child..." Li Guifen was about to scold her when she looked up and saw her daughter's disheveled figure as she fled. The scolding stuck in her throat.

Hua Yun ran all the way to the old persimmon tree in the backyard.

At this time, the tree was bare except for a few frozen persimmons that had not yet been picked, hanging like red lanterns.

She leaned against the rough tree trunk, her back bent like a shrimp.

"Ugh... ugh..."

Dry heaving.